Anniversary Trip

[Ludicrous Depth]

I will be celebrating my 33rd wedding anniverary with my sweetie in January. She was just OWC this summer and we celebrated with a family trip to Grand Cayman in October. Well for our anniversary, we want to go alone. Have been looking at either Florida or Hawaii. As we live in Phoenix, we don't want to spend all day traveling so that is why we are looking at staying stateside. Can anyone give us some recommendations and opinions on which would be best and where they suggest we go. We do like shore and boat dives. As she does not go that deep, will be doing mostly reef dives, but I would like a couple of deep wrecks.

Thanks in advance for all your help

 

[Doc]

Florida in January can be downright brisk. Hawaii might not take "all day to get to" from Arizona, but...

Shallow reefs, shore dives, wrecks. "Staying stateside"? Fort Lauderdale?

Beyond the border, a Short list: St. Croix, Roatan South side.

 

[robint]

I will be celebrating my 33rd wedding anniverary with my sweetie in January. She was just OWC this summer and we celebrated with a family trip to Grand Cayman in October. Well for our anniversary, we want to go alone. Have been looking at either Florida or Hawaii. As we live in Phoenix, we don't want to spend all day traveling so that is why we are looking at staying stateside. Can anyone give us some recommendations and opinions on which would be best and where they suggest we go. We do like shore and boat dives. As she does not go that deep, will be doing mostly reef dives, but I would like a couple of deep wrecks.

Thanks in advance for all your help

Both destinations are quite brisk during January! Hawaii temps might be a bit warmer but seas may be rough with boats not always going out. Ditto Florida. The entire Caribbean is colder with iffy weather during Dec-Feb timeframe, so keep that in mind. Weather may be sunny for several days, then cooler and rougher seas with diving cancelled. Keep that in mind.
As Roatanman said, the southside of Roatan might be good bet for outside of US. There or Bonaire would be safer than many other destinations regarding weather.

I know it isn't the answer you want, but just my 2 cents.... wait a few months.

robin

 

[tadeotadeo]

I would agree with the first two post but add San Andres Island to the list of places in the Carribbean. It is far enough south where it gets least effected durring the winter months from the northerly winds. There is almost alway one side of the island that is calm for diving. I not to surre on the travel for Arizona, though.

 

[caymaniac]

I have been to both Hawaii and Florida. In Florida the dives will be shallow and therefore if the wind is up there may be NO diving, this has happened to me.

I would choose Hawaii over Florida.

In Hawaii the water will be cool but there will be calmer diving especially in the early morning before the winds start. If you go in January the whales are likely to be coming in so that would be a real treat. Also the whales sing and you may be able to hear them on your dives.
At Molokini Crater off from Maui (if you go to Maui) there are is some good shallow dives on the front side and there are some nice shallow dives nearer to shore (60ft.or less) on a wreck like St. Anthonys, there's usaually some nice turtles on that site.
For deeper dives you could take Rainbow's End or the backside of Molokini.

The Big Island. I've been a couple of times to the Big Island which is famous for the Manta dives. There are some great spots to snorkel and shore dive too.
Places like next to "point of refuge" there is a great spot to shore dive or snorkel. Once we spent an hour with 21 dolphins in the bay for an hour snorkel and they were within touching distance.

Molokini Crater

whale wave

Place of Refuge

Congrats on your accomplishment 33 is a terrific number to be at.

frontside Molokini

St. Anthony's wreck

 

[DeputyDan]

It's 5 hours 50 minutes from Phoenix to Hawaii - Been there done that.

You should do either south side of Roatan or Bonaire. Every other place will either be too rough or luck of the draw in January.

I am saying this as advice to a new diver not yet accustomed to harsh condisions as opposed to what's a great place to go.

If it were May-August - definitely the big island of Hawaii - but it's not!

 

[DandyDon]

I did Key Largo Xmas week once. Hit K-mart after the first dive morning for some long, waterproof pants to wear on the boat and was glad I took the heavy wetsuit. It was nice, but not warm.

Where would they want to dive if they went to Hawaii? I would think some island hoping would be in order there, diving different ones every other day. Looks like Hawaii is cheaper to get to from there on hypothetical dates I tried, but I'm better pricier to be there and dive, and then there's changing islands a few times if one wanted to go that route. On the other hand, isn't January kind of rainy in Roatan...?

Roatan: 6.5-7 hours each way for $742 click to enlarge pics
That fare has fluctuated from $800 to $700 recently

Honolulu: about 8 hours each way for $390
that has flucuated a lot recently tho
or about 6 hours non-stop for $520

Kona, Big Island: 8 hours each way for $520
USAir does fly non-stop for an ungawdly amount :shocked2:

Maui: around 6 hours each way for $521

Really, all these fares have fluctuated a lot recently...

​

 

[Ludicrous Depth]

Thank you, thank you and thank you again to all who have responded. I guess being from Arizona, I forget that it does get colder in other parts of the country. The whales in Hawaii would be fantastic, but she does not like cold water. Would love to do another Caribean trip, but funds don't allow me to do more than one a year and we are scheduled to do Bonaire in September. Will consider all of your suggestions and see what we can come up with.

 

[DandyDon]

funds don't allow me

With that term in mind, Roatan for total costs...! ilot: